Threat of Qin Ziyan

The Sect Tournament loomed closer, and the sect buzzed with restless energy. Whispers of rivalries, strategies, and hidden talents swirled like a storm. But one name rose above the rest, Qin Ziyan.

Xiao Lian had only heard fragments about him and also had a casual one to one battle with him and he has also helped Ji Ren in helping her before. An expert in illusions. Unmatched in mental combat. A prodigy who rarely bothered with physical fights because he could break an opponent's mind before they ever lifted a sword.

She hadn't expected to meet him, again.

The sun hung low over the training grounds when he appeared, weaving through the crowd with the grace of a panther. His silver hair shimmered in the light, and his eyes, a shade of pale violet, gleamed with mischief. He didn't wear the standard disciple robes, instead, his attire was a flowing ensemble of black and gold, as if he didn't care about blending in.

He didn't need to. Everyone moved aside as he approached, their gazes flicking to Xiao Lian like they were watching a tragedy unfold.

"You're the girl everyone's talking about." His voice was smooth, with an edge of teasing curiosity. He tilted his head, studying her like she was a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. "The one who climbed the ranks so fast people think you cheat."

Xiao Lian wiped sweat from her brow, keeping her stance steady. She'd been training for hours, perfecting her footwork and refining her sword techniques. The last thing she needed was a distraction , especially not him.

"If you came to accuse me of something, get in line."

Qin Ziyan chuckled, the sound low and melodic. "Accuse you? No, no. I'm intrigued." He stepped closer, hands behind his back. "It's been a while since someone interesting showed up."

She tightened her grip on her sword, watching his every move. SIS hummed faintly in her mind, calculating possible outcomes, tracking his energy signature.

[Warning: Qi anomaly detected. Illusion domain potential active.]

He hadn't done anything yet but even standing still, his presence distorted the air around him like a mirage.

"Why are you here?" she asked, voice sharper than intended.

Qin Ziyan smiled, slow and deliberate. "I'd like to test you, again."

Xiao Lian narrowed her eyes. "Test me?"

He spread his arms, as if presenting her with an irresistible offer. "Everyone else wants to beat you down physically. I'm more interested in your mind." His violet gaze darkened, the playful glint sharpening into something predatory. "Let's see if you can survive my illusions since I didn't use it fully for you last time."

Before she could refuse, the world shifted.

The training grounds dissolved, the stone tiles melting into ripples of light. Her heart lurched as she found herself standing in the middle of an endless forest... thick, blackened trees stretching into the sky like twisted claws.

Her pulse pounded. She knew this wasn't real, but her body didn't care.

[Environmental distortion detected. Initiating mental stability protocols.]

"Illusions are like dreams," Qin Ziyan's voice echoed from everywhere and nowhere at once. "They're only deadly if you can't wake up."

A shadow flickered behind her. Xiao Lian whirled, sword raised, as a figure stepped from the darkness.

Her father. She froze. He looked exactly as she remembered, eyes warm, calloused hands reaching out. The sight of him, so vivid and real, made her throat tighten.

"Lian," he whispered. "Come home."

Her fingers trembled. Logic screamed at her that this wasn't possible. Her father was dead to her. She'd buried him herself in her heart. He abandoned her and sent her to the Monastery to suffer, he hated her because she didn't have talent... Cultivation.

And yet.

"Father?"

[Warning: Emotional interference detected. Countermeasures recommended.]

The illusion wavered, flickering like a candle, but it didn't break. Qin Ziyan's power pressed against her mind like a vice, exploiting every crack in her defenses.

Her father smiled. His skin peeled away. The corpse lunged.

Xiao Lian barely reacted in time, slicing through the illusion. The figure shattered into smoke, but the forest didn't fade. Instead, more illusions surged forward, familiar faces twisted into nightmares. Her mother. Her over perfectly talented sister. Ji Ren. Each one more brutal than the last.

Her chest heaved as she fought them off, her sword blurring as she destroyed illusion after illusion. But they kept coming, faster, more distorted, tearing through her resolve like paper.

"I can keep this up all day," Qin Ziyan's voice purred, soft and cruel. "Can you?"

Sweat dripped down her face. Her limbs burned. She wouldn't last. Unless she changed the rules.

"SIS," she rasped through gritted teeth, dodging another strike. "Analyze the illusion's weak points. Show me the cracks."

[Initiating spectral analysis.]

Her vision shifted. The forest bled into strands of energy, threads of shimmering gold, weaving reality together. But now, SIS highlighted the flaws. Tiny fractures where the illusion flickered and strained.

There. Xiao Lian surged forward, driving her sword into one of the cracks. The forest screamed, warping violently before dissolving like glass.

She staggered back into reality, chest heaving. The training grounds snapped into focus, and Qin Ziyan stood in front of her, clapping slowly.

"Well done," he said, eyes gleaming with amusement. "Most people break after the third layer. You made it to the fifth."

Xiao Lian wiped the blood from her mouth, glaring. "You ambushed me."

He shrugged, unapologetic. "I prefer surprise tests."

She wanted to punch him. Instead, she steadied herself, forcing her voice not to shake. "Is this how you fight in the tournament? Trapping people in illusions until they pass out?"

Qin Ziyan tilted his head, looking genuinely curious. "Would you prefer I break bones instead?" He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Or are you afraid?"

She held her ground, even as her legs threatened to buckle. "You wish."

He laughed, and it echoed through the courtyard like silk-wrapped steel.

"You're going to make this tournament so much more entertaining." His fingers brushed her chin, so quick she barely had time to react. "I hope you survive long enough to face me again."

With that, he turned and walked away, humming a tune that made her skin crawl. Xiao Lian stood there, her heart hammering. Because for all her defiance, for all her victory in breaking his illusion, her hands still wouldn't stop shaking.